Rays: 'Toe' Nash cleared to report

Heralded prospect Greg "Toe" Nash is able to report to minor-league spring training next month with no restrictions from his prior legal problems, Rays scouting director Dan Jennings said.

In a hearing Monday in Louisiana, the Ascension Parish District Attorney's Office agreed to put Nash in a pretrial intervention program rather than prosecute him on a felony robbery charge stemming from an April 19 fight, Jennings said.

Nash will be on probation for six months, Jennings said, and can have his record expunged if he stays out of trouble.

Nash, 18, had been arrested five times during the past year, but the robbery charge was the most serious. He has not been convicted of any crimes, and Jennings said the various misdemeanor matters also have been resolved.

"Everything is off," Jennings said. "He'll be in spring training."

SIGNING: Right-handed pitcher Travis Harper agreed to terms on a one-year contract. The Rays have 17 players unsigned, including pitcher Bryan Rekar, who has a Feb. 20 arbitration hearing.

17 losses equal $6.05M

Parris, who made $1.4-million last season, gets a $750,000 signing bonus, $1.9-million this season and $3.4-million in 2002.

Parris was 12-17 with a 4.81 ERA last season. Only Arizona's Omar Daal (4-19) lost more. Matt Clement (13-17) was tied with Parris for second.

Parris, 33, has a 35-35 career record and a 4.49 ERA.

PLAYER ARRESTED IN TAMPA: Robert Person was hogtied by Tampa police, who said the enraged pitcher tried to kick out the windows of a police car after his arrest in Ybor City early Sunday.

Person, who signed a nearly $3-million deal Friday, was arrested when he refused an order to walk away from a fight after brawling with a man, police said. He was released Monday after paying $1,000 bail. He faces misdemeanor charges of obstructing or opposing an officer without violence and giving a false name.

Person wasn't charged with a felony because no officers were hit during his struggle, police spokesman Joe Durkin said.

ARBITRATION: Pitchers Kevin Millwood and Antonio Osuna took their salary cases before arbitrators, while Mike James agreed to a contract.

Millwood, 10-13 with a 4.66 ERA for Atlanta last season, asked arbitrators for a raise from $420,000 to $3.9-million. Atlanta countered at $3.1-million.

Osuna, 3-6 with a 3.74 ERA in 46 relief appearances for Los Angeles, asked for a raise from $971,045 to $1.85-million. The Dodgers offered $1.3-million.

Decisions on both cases are expected today. Players hold a 3-2 lead in cases decided thus far, with 27 more hearings still scheduled before Feb. 21.

James agreed just before the start of his hearing to a one-year contract worth $1.525-million. The 33-year-old right-hander made $800,000 last season.

Mariano Rivera's hearing, postponed last week after infighting broke out among his agents, likely will be rescheduled for Feb. 19-21. The Yankees are attempting to negotiate a multiyear contract for their closer.